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#1. Consider the following statements:
#2. With reference to AstroSat, consider the following statements:
#3. Consider the following statements with respect to the Question Hour:
#4. Which of the following is correct about India Innovation Index Report?
#5. Which of the following is/are not a ballistic missiles of India?
Current affairs quiz today – 22nd Jan. 2021.
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Results
#1. Consider the following statements:
1. The President cannot exercise his power of pardon independent of the government.
2. The scope of the pardoning power of the President is wider than that of the Governor.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
ANS: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
- Under Article 72 of the Constitution, the President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offense where the sentence is a sentence of death.
- However, the President cannot exercise his power of pardon independent of the government.
- In several cases, the SC has ruled that the President has to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers while deciding mercy pleas. These include Maru Ram vs Union of India in 1980 and Dhananjoy Chatterjee vs State of West Bengal in 1994. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- The scope of the pardoning power of the President under Article 72 is wider than the pardoning power of the Governor under Article 161 which differs in the following two ways:
- Court Martial:Â The power of the President to grant pardon extends in cases where the punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial but Article 161 does not provide any such power to the Governor.
- Death sentence: The President can grant pardon in all cases where the sentence is given is the sentence of death but the pardoning power of the Governor does not extend to death sentence cases. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
#2. With reference to AstroSat, consider the following statements:
1. It is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission.
2. It enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
ANS: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
- AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously with its five unique X-ray and ultraviolet telescopes working in tandem. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- One of the unique features of AstroSat mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- It is a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an IRS-class (Indian Remote Sensing-Class) satellite in a 650-km, near-equatorial orbit.
#3. Consider the following statements with respect to the Question Hour:
1. Questions cannot be directed at the private members during this hour.
2. There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall.
3. It is not mentioned in the parliamentary rules book.
4. Question Hour is not scheduled on the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.
Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?
ANS: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation:
- During the Question hour, Members of Parliament ask questions to ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries.
- The questions can also be asked to the private members (MPs who are not ministers).
- There is no Question Hour on the day the President addresses MPs from both Houses in the Central Hall.
- Question Hour is not scheduled on the day the Finance Minister presents the Budget.
- Question Hour is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of the House.
#4. Which of the following is correct about India Innovation Index Report?
1. India Innovation Index Report is released by NITI Aayog.
2. This index has been developed on the lines of the Global Innovation Index.
3. Number of Internet subscribers is one of the parameters considered in measurement of this index.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
ANS: (D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
- Recently, India Innovation Index Report 2020 was released by NITI Aayog in which Karnataka retained its top position in the major States category. Hence, the statement 1 is correct.
- In making India Innovation Index Institutions involved include NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Ayog with the Institute for Competitiveness.
- The index has been developed on the lines of the Global Innovation Index (GII), to ameliorate the innovation ecosystem of India. Hence, the statement 2 is correct.
- The indicators that the survey uses includes parameters such as:
- Number of PhD students, enrolment in engineering and technology colleges and number of highly skilled professionals.
- Investment in R&D and number of patents and trademark applications filed.
- Number of Internet subscribers. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
- FDI inflows and business environment.
#5. Which of the following is/are not a ballistic missiles of India?
1. Shaurya
2. BrahMos
3. Prithvi
4. NAG
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
ANS: (C) 4 only
Explanation
- Shaurya is a land variant of short-range Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) K-15 Sagarika, which has a range of at least 750 kilometers.
- It is capable of carrying payloads of 200 kg to 1000 kg.
- It is a surface-to-surface tactical missile.
- BrahMos is a Supersonic cruise missile.
- Being developed with Russia as a private joint-venture.
- Multi-platform cruise can strike from various types of platforms.
- Among the world fastest supersonic cruise missiles with speeds ranging between Mach 2.5 – 2.8.
- A ‘fire and forget’ weapon i.e. requiring no further guidance from the control centre once the target has been assigned
- Prithvi is the first indigenously built ballistic missile.
- Surface-to-surface battlefield missile.
- Demonstrates higher lethal effects and high level capability with field interchangeable warheads.
- Range from 150 km to 300 km.
- NAG is a third generation ‘fire-and-forget’ anti-tank missile with a range of 4-8km.
- Developed indigenously as an anti-armour weapon employing sensor fusion technologies for flight guidance.
- HELINA (Helicopter Launched NAG) is the air-to-surface version of the NAG integrated into Dhruv Helicopters.
- Hence, option C is correct.
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